The Journey of a Refugee

For those of you who don't know, I am once again gainfully employed.  A few weeks ago, I began working with one of the resettlement agencies in Louisville.  When we left Missouri, I didn't know if I would be able to continue working with the refugee population simply because resettlement agencies aren't found in every city and even if they are, attaining a job with them can be difficult since they tend to be smaller and receive less funding than other social service agencies (not that most social service agencies receive adequate funding to begin with).  So I was fairly amazed when this job popped up; I had been getting very frustrated because I was having difficulty finding a job, but God is good (as always) and provided me with this opportunity to continue working with the population which I so love.  Currently, I am coordinating services to older refugees and also working in development a few additional hours each week.

If you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you've probably figured out that my blog mainly consists of a few things: books, life happenings, refugees and international issues, and the occasional funny video or random tidbit.  It's important for me to point out that what I write on my blog does not reflect the opinions of my place of employment, but don't be surprised if I tell stories (maintaining confidentiality) or advertise pertinent fundraisers and events.

I thought I would pass along this video I saw recently; it gives you a glimpse of the journey of a refugee.  The IRC (International Rescue Committee) is one of the national voluntary resettlement agencies (volags) which provides resettlement services to refugees throughout the nation; the agency for which I work is affiliated with a different volag, however.  All refugees resettling in the United States receive services from an agency affiliated with one of the national volags. 

Enjoy the video and consider the journey of a refugee and how you might help them successfully complete their journey...